§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and by whom the decision on the latest increases in television licence fees was taken.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:In exercise of my powers under Section 2(1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, I made the Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges and Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 1977 (S.I. 1977 No. 1286), with the consent of the Treasury, on 28th July 1977.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, and on what grounds of lack of ability, he declined to accept the request of the hon. Member for Newham, North-West to make an announcement on proposals to increase the television licence fees to the House of Commons prior to its summer Adjournment and what was in his eventual statement that could not have been made in response to the several parliamentary Questions tabled by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West.
767W
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:In a reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 7th February—[Vol. 925, c. 526–528]—I informed the House that, taking account of difficulties in 1975, the next increases in television licence fees would come into effect at midnight of the day on which they were announced. I decided that it was necessary that increases should take effect from midnight on 29th July and 1 therefore laid the Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges and Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 1977 (S.I. 1977 No. 1286) before Parliament on that day.